Rectifier-control apparatus



Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,320

W. A. PETERS, JR

RECTFIER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 28y 1923 WA. Peers, Jr., INVENTOR BY His ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE.;

WILLIAM PETERS, J'R., 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. I )U PONT vDE NEMOURS v@t COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RECTIFIER-CONTROL APPARATUS.

' Application @led April 28, -1903. Serial No. 635,340.

This invention `relates to apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of'a rectifying column in such a Way that the column will take care. of any amount of crude liquor fed to it provided this amount does not exceed the maximum capacity of the column. My invention also includes means to automatically check the feed if it exceeds the capacity of the column, and to maintain it at the maximum rate.

One embodiment of' my invention is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an elevation of the new apparatus and Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the weir box.

Reference being had to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a tank' or reservoir 1 communicating by pipe 3 with the rectifier column 9. The pipe 3 is provided with a valve 2 which is actuated byal lever 4, the rod 15, and the float 5. The tank 6l contains liquid on which the float 5 rests, and communicates with column 9 through pipe 10. A valve 11 controlled by a thermostat 12 regulates the amount of steam admitted through the pipe 13, depending upon the temperature of some point 19. An exit ipe 14 leads from the bottom, and a pipe 8 rom the top, of the column 9, the pipe 8 coms municating with the condenser 7 which is directly connected, by the pipe B, with the double weir box 16, This b ox comprises the receptacle A and the divisions C and D which communicate with the receptacle A by the Weir-dam openings E and which are controlled by the adjustable gate I which may be moved backward and forward to changethe effective size ofthe openings E and F, enlarging one as the other is decreased, and vice-versa. From the division C the pipe 18 leads to storage, and from the division D the pipe 17 leads back to the column, and thus the device 16 may be used to fix the ratio of distillatereturned to the column to that withdrawn.

The operation of the invention will be made clear by the following explanation Weak liquor to be rectied is fed to the column 9 from the tank 1. The tank 1 may be supplied with this weak liquor continuously or intermittently. The column 9, vapor lead 8 and condenser 7 f may be of any desired types. I have foundthat for the small sized columns in connection with which my invention is articularly useful a columnlilled with smal glass rings 6 to 8 mm. diameter will be most economical.

This column must be capable of separating the weak liquor fed into two fractions of the desired composition, i. e., a heads product delivered from the'line 18 and a tails product delivered' from the line 14. In many cases it will be found convenient to control the composition of the heads product by fixing the ratio of liquid distillate returned to the column through the line 17 to that withdrawn through the line 18. This may be done bymeans of the reflux box or valve described above and also described in .my application, Serial No. 635,338, filed Aprill 28, 1923. The temperature at some point, 19, in the column is held constant by means of the thermostat 12 andthe valve 11 acting onthe steam supplied through the line 13. The steam maybe supplied to coils in' the base of the column or may be blown directly into the column.

As long as the correct temperature is held at the point 19 and the ratio of distillate returned to distillate withdrawn is maintained at the correct constant ratio, the distillate and slop will be of the desired composition. As the amount of feed run into the column through the line 3 is increased, the

steam supply to the base of the column will be increased and the flow of distillate from the condenser 7 to the reflux box 16-will be increased as also will be the flow from the line 18 in proportion. -However,-at a certain rate of feed and steam supply the column will no longer handle the load but the'uprising vapors will blow the descending liq- 'uors up through the column into the condenser provided the trap 14 does not blow out first. In order to prevent this overloadposition of the tank with respect to the base of the column, the; maximum amount` of :feed which the column will handle may be run to it as long as there is any liquor in the tank 1.

I claimz 1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a column still, a controllable steam supply means and a thermostatic control device therefor coupled with the column and responsive to temperature changes therein to hold the temperature substantially constant, a pipe for feeding liquid scribed, in combination, a column still, a

controllable steam supply means and a thermostatic control device therefor coupled with the column and responsive to temperature changes therein to hold the temperature substantially constant, a pipe for feeding liquid to be distilled Jto the column, and.

means for controlling the liquid feed, such means comprising a valve in said pipe, a

tank in communication withthe columnto receive liquid therefrom; afloat in said tank to be supported by liquid therein, and linkage connecting said lat and valve and assembled to move the valve toward closed position upon rise'of the float due to rise of the liquid in the tank under increasing pressure in thecolumn', thereby to prevent overloading ol the column. n

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a column still, means for dividing the distillate from the column into liquor for Withdrawal and liquor for return to the column, thus to fix the ratio therebetween and control the composition of the distillate, a controllable steam supply means and a thermostatic control devicetherefor coupled `with the column and responsive to temperature changes therein tohold the temperature substantially constant, a pipe for feeding liquid to be distilled to the column, andmeans for controlling the liquid feed, such .means comprising a valve in said pipe, a device responsive to pressure change in said column, and means connecting said valve and pressure responsive device and structurally coupled with said valve to move the same toward closed position upon increase of pressure in the column, thereby to prevent overloading of the column.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

WILLIAM A. PETERS, JR. 

